Sunday 10th May 2015 - Press In For Breakthroughs - Brian Nish

PRESSING IN FOR A BREAKTHROUGH INTRODUCTION (Mark 2v3-5) Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. And when they could not come near Him, because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic “Son, your sins are forgiven you…Arise take up your bed and walk” Last week we heard that ‘Jesus is in the house’. This means in my heart, my home, and my church But because Jesus is in the house doesn’t mean that blessings will now fall upon us automatically – we still need to press in to receive the blessings God has for us - by faith! In times of revival God doesn’t just turn up some Sunday morning because He feels like it (although He could). Someone, somewhere, has been pressing in for a breakthrough to God in prayer! Some of the world’s greatest achievements have not come through people with great gifts or wealth – but through DETERMINATION! The bible calls this FAITH! I believe we’re entering a season where God wants us to press in for a breakthrough (TO BE DETERMINED) – for ourselves, for others, and for our town and nation Just like these four men did for their paralytic friend (V4) THEY COULD NOT COME NEAR HIM BECAUSE OF THE CROWD Use your imagination • They’d obviously heard about the miracles Jesus had performed – that’s why they were carrying their friend to Jesus • But when they arrived they couldn’t get near Jesus because of the crowd – at this point they could have given up and returned home • Are we put off from pursuing God for something by the ‘crowd’ - the first apparent obstacle that comes against us? • Mark 5v25-34 – the lady with the issue of blood ‘pushed through the crowd’ to get what she wanted from Jesus by faith • The four friends didn’t give up either but looked for another way in and went up the steps to the roof carrying their friend (v4) THEY UNCOVERED THE ROOF WHERE HE WAS • Digging a hole in the roof was hard work. They didn’t come prepared for this so didn’t bring a bag of tools! They used what they had to dig and press through • If we really want to press through into the presence of Jesus we won’t be put off by crowds or hard work • For us it might not be digging a hole in a roof – but praying and seeking God with all our heart • Jer 29v11-13 – Then you will call upon Me and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart • When we press in to the presence of Jesus – we will also find the answers to our prayers (v4) SO WHEN THEY HAD BROKEN THROUGH • The four men had dug a hole in the roof - maybe with their bare hands - and had finally broken through into the presence of Jesus • Now they could bring their need to Jesus – their paralytic friend – believing that Jesus would heal him • Do you believe that if you were in the presence of Jesus He would answer your prayers? (v5) WHEN JESUS SAW THEIR FAITH HE SAID TO THE PARALYTIC • Faith is trusting in the Lord with our whole heart and not leaning into our own understanding (Pro 3v5) • ‘When Jesus saw their faith’ - He responded to it by healing their paralytic friend. This shows us that faith doesn’t necessarily need to be in the person needing healing • But I believe there’s more to it than this! ‘He said to the paralytic’ - “Your sins are forgiven you” – salvation before the Cross? Moses, Elijah, King David etc? Secondly Jesus says “Arise, take up your bed and walk” – healing? • Jesus said to the lady with the issue of blood “Your faith has made you well” (Mark 5v34) • Jesus is still looking for faith on the earth today because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13v8) • And He will be looking for faith on earth when He returns (Luke 18v8) • The paralytic and his four friends must have gone on their way rejoicing - because they pressed in for a breakthrough to Jesus for healing – and came away with more than they looked for! • Jesus came to bring us ‘not just life’ – but ABUNDANT LIFE! He not only wants to meet our needs but give us something extra to go away with!!! CONCLUSION • I believe ‘Jesus is in the house’ but this doesn’t mean that blessings will fall upon us automatically – we have to press in for a breakthrough – for ourselves, for others, and for our town and nation • I believe that there are cracks in the dam and water is starting to flow –but we need to press in for a breakthrough – so that the dam bursts completely - and a mighty river of revival sweeps through our town and nation • I believe that we press in for a breakthrough through prayer and seeking God with our whole heart (LHOP leaflets) And…BY BEING DETERMINED…to keep pressing through until you get what you are after. And then Jesus will probably give you something extra – just because He loves you!